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Do I have to be friends with my co workers to get ahead? Should I take the promotion even if I hate the job? Is my salary big enough or am I getting screwed? Do I have to choose between having a family and having a career? I've been laid off now what do I do? I'm Melissa Franks, and I've spent the last 25 years building my corporate career and a family to along the way, there have been bumps and bruises and some epic going down in flames of glory moments. My journey up the corporate ladder found me forging new ground without a safety net. Through my real life stories, experiences, and special guests on the show, I take the mystery out of how to succeed in the corporate world. I'm going to spill all the tea about how decisions are really made, how to tell who the hidden influencers are, and how to realize your full potential while enjoying the process at the same time. Each week, we will dive into a topic where I will share the good, the bad, and the ugly of my experiences and what we can all learn from them. You will walk away each week with a clear set of next steps to take action and improve your circumstances. We are going to speak frankly and freely about when it's time to opt in or to opt out. Opt In is a place where you can come to get practical, actionable advice to propel your career and your life in the direction you want. Work with me: www.melissafranks.com/offers

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The Hire That Breaks Most Six-Figure Businesses

May 20, 2026 • Melissa Franks

0:00 | 30:21

Your first hire was probably fine. It's hire #2 where founders go off the rails — and it's quietly costing them years of growth.

In this episode of the Optin Podcast, Melissa Franks unpacks the most common (and most expensive) hiring mistake she sees founders make: hiring another doer when what they actually need is an integrator. If your team has grown, your revenue is up, but you're MORE buried than you were before — this episode names exactly why, and shows you the way out.

You'll learn:

Why hire #2 is the trap (and how to tell if you've already fallen into it)
The three roles every business needs — and the one founders almost always skip
A simple framework for who to hire next at $500K, $1M, and $2M in revenue
The calendar audit you can do this week to know — with zero guessing — what kind of hire your business actually needs
Why a fractional COO often pays for themselves in 60-90 days at the right stage
The mindset shift that gets founders out of the bottleneck for good

This is the episode for any founder who's said the words "I just need another set of hands" lately. Spoiler: you don't. You need something better.

If this episode hits close to home, Melissa is offering a free consultation to walk through the calendar exercise with you — no pitch, no pressure, just clarity on your next right hire. Book at melissafranks.com.

Resources & Links

Book a free consultation with Melissa → https://www.melissafranks.com
Learn more about On Call COO fractional services → https://www.melissafranks.com

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